Current Series: Communion

This Sunday: Jesus’s Invitation

Read Exodus 12:1-14, 31,32 the story of the Passover. Discuss the physical deliverance the Israelites were freed from.

It’s no wonder that the disciples during the Passover had the minds on a physical deliverance. Talk as a group how the disciples and people of that day would have to unlearn or be open to a different kind of deliverance.

Is there a circumstance where you prayed for some kind of deliverance but God showed up in a different way?

Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” What does Jesus’s spiritual deliverance mean in your life?

Communion is a practice done with others. When we identify with Jesus, we seek to follow Jesus. Read John 13:34-35.We cannot follow Jesus without loving others. Is there someone you are finding it difficult to love? Share in small groups of 2-3 and pray for these situations.

Current Series: Mother’s Day

This Sunday: This Time I will Praise Him

Primary Text: Genesis 29-30; I Samuel 1

Recall the message from two weeks ago on Senioritis. How does that message relate to the message Amy shared on Sunday?

Read Genesis 29:15-35; 30:19-20. Leah was stuck in a current reality searching for fulfillment in a future season. Her “future” fulfillment was children to achieve the love of a husband. Where are you stuck right now? What angst, frustration, disappointment or grief nags at you?

How long have you wrestled in this current reality?

How have you attempted to achieve peace or fulfillment?

What is your current attempt to achieve peace or fulfillment?

How do you know if your attempt is how God wants you to achieve peace/resolution?

Spend time in silent prayer for each other. Then pray out loud for one another. Seek to find rest and direction as you wait to find clarity. In the midst of waiting, can you pray, “this time I will praise Him”?

Current Series: Reactions to the Resurrection

This Sunday: Comparison

Primary Text: Luke 24:1-12, 24:36-41; John 20:29 and Matthew 5:4-7:27

Discuss the message from Sunday. What is one point you remember from the message?

Where were you when….talk about where you where and what your response was when a significant national (9/11, JFK shot, Challenger exploded, etc) event occurred? How did the event affect you?

Now consider an event where you were personally involved. Briefly share (1-2 minutes) of a significant personal event in your life. Go back around the room and describe how this event changed in one way.

Read Luke 24:13-35. Discuss how these men were affected by the news in Jerusalem of Jesus death.

How did that event change for them after they encountered the risen Jesus?

Read Matthew 5:1-12. Instead of reading these as rules to follow, consider these verses as an invitation into the Kingdom. An invitation from Jesus to come and see – to follow Him. Have everyone pick out one verse that speaks to them. Share with the group.

Buddy up in the group. Write down each other’s verse and follow up sometime during the week. Has your buddy had an opportunity to practice this verse?

Current Series: Reactions to the Resurrection

This Sunday: Brokenness

Primary Text: John 18:1-5, 15-18, 25-27, John 21, Matt. 27:3-10

Discuss the message from Sunday. What is one point God stirred in you?

Read the passages in Matthew 26 and 27 that pertain to Judas. List his actions. Consider his motivations.

Read the passages in John 18 and 21 pertaining to Peter. List his actions. Consider his motivations.

What do we learn about human nature from these two men? What do we learn about brokenness?

We can list the reasons that can lead someone to brokenness. What are common thoughts, emotions and actions that can lead us to remain broken? …to jump away from Jesus?

How about the other direction. Jumping toward Jesus as Peter did led him to forgiveness and restoration. What do you think propelled Peter to move toward Jesus?

Read Matt. 5:3-10 and 2 Cor. 12:8-10. Jesus says there is beauty in our weakness, poverty and meekness. He says that those who embrace these qualities will receive his Kingdom. Read aloud Matt. 5:3-10 again. Spend time in prayer asking God to show up in our lives through these qualities. Share and confess where you seek to guard and protect yourselves from exposing these “weak” qualities. Pray with faith that God would bless each of you as you surrender yourselves to Him.

Current Series: Reactions to the Resurrection

This Sunday: Pursuit

Primary Text: John 20:1-18

Discuss the message from Sunday. What is one point that you took from the message?

Give an example where you or someone you know has been in pursuit of someone or something. What qualities are present when one pursues?

Mary Magdalene pursued Jesus. In life and in his death, she pursued him. She enjoyed being in His presence. She was a better person because she was around Him. Think of someone you enjoy. What are 3-4 reasons why you enjoy being around this person?

Read John 20:1-2, 11-18. Mary is filled with emotion and grief because of Her closeness to Him. What are the most personal, the most significant reasons you pursue Jesus?

Do you recall Cory’s Next Step Challenge? 60 minutes pursuing Jesus. If you have started the challenge, share your experience with the group. What have you done? Did you meet Jesus through your time with Him?

If you have pursued Jesus this week, what is one way you are different because of it?

Current Series: Psalm 23

This Sunday: He Pursues Me

Primary Text: Psalm 23

Take time to remember the past messages in this series: My Shepherd, He Leads Me, He Guides Me Through, The Table, He Restores Me and so on. What is one way God has stirred your heart and caused you to action over the last 7 weeks? Have as many people share as willing. Take only one (or two) minutes per person and use a timer. Give a few minutes for people be consider their answer. This method can help people to summarize their thoughts and give the most impactful share to the group and avoid it turning into a 5-7 minute story that can cause the time to slip away.

Read the Psalm 23 in its entirety. Consider a different method, a time of silence before, or extended group prayer to bring attention and openness to hearing God speak during the reading of this familiar Psalm.

Consider a stressful period in your past. Did you think it was ever going to end? How did it affect your perspective during the situation?

Recall the reference to leaving a trail of goodness? If we have received God's love and forgiveness, we display love and forgiveness. Where have you seen any of these examples in the lives of your family or others around you? A pleasant surprise, kindness, honor, generosity, compassion, diligence, humility. Go around and share some examples.

Encourage the group to attend the Passion Experience on Friday from 4-8pm. Maybe even go through as a group and discuss shortly afterwards how God stirred you. Child care is provided for children (birth – Kindergarten) from 5-7pm. Families with children over Kindergarten are encouraged to go through with their children. Printed guides are available for children.

Current Series: Psalm 23

This Sunday: He Guides Me Through

Primary Text: Psalm 23:4

As a group, share a main point from the Sunday message.

Consider the messages in this Psalm series. Is there a phrase that has helped or is helping you? Share with the group. Here are a few: My Shepherd; even though I have wants, I will not be in want; in the midst of fear, friction, flies, famine, I overcome by being in the presence of the shepherd.

Read Psalm 23:1-4. What shift happens in verse 4? What verb does David use?

Consider an obstacle, a valley, a challenge in your life. What is one way you are walking through it? Go around the room and briefly share.

Sometimes in the darkest valleys, it is difficult to see light. Again in the midst of a valley in your life, where can you find hope?

What do you think Jesus is teaching you through this valley?

Consider a friend or family member who is in a valley. As a group, pray he/she may be refreshed with hope by the shepherd.

Current Series: Psalm 23

This Sunday: He Leads Me

Primary Text: Psalm 23:2

Describe your place of green pastures or quiet waters. Where is a place, or an environment, you often hear from God? Briefly share how God meets you in this place.

How can you support your group members, your friends or your family to go to their place of rest?

Cory shared four realities that keep us from experiencing the green pastures and quiet waters. Can you name them? (Fear, Friction, Flies, Famine) Which one has kept you from Him recently or currently?

Read Day 4 of the daily devotional together. Go around the room and answer the two questions posed? Half the group answer the first question. The other half answer the second one. Click here to see the devotional. www.lscckc.org/devotional

Share with the group a thought or step you commit to take as you follow Jesus this week.

Current Series: Psalm 23

This Sunday: The Lord is My Shepherd

Primary Text: Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, 46:3-4

As a group, share the main points of the Sunday message.

How has God been good to you? Was there an experience or situation where you truly believed He was “my” shepherd to you?

Take a few minutes to quiet reflection. Lead the group to slow down, step out of the pressures and stresses of the world and quiet their souls. Read aloud Psalm 23 two times. Follow with five minutes of silence encouraging the members to meditate on a word or phrase. Ask the group to describe the experience. Let the Spirit lead you as you facilitate.

Read Isaiah 46:4. God made you. You are of great value to Him. If the group has been together for some time, go around person to person, and have the other group members share godly qualities they see in him/her. Or have the group share 1-2 ways God has made him/herself that reflect Him.

Sheep have keen sense of vision and hearing. They learn the voice of their shepherd. Consider a Christ-follower who listens well to Jesus. How did they become such good listeners? How do you think that impacts their daily life, their relationships, their outlook?

Is Jesus speaking about a direction He may want you to go or take a step towards some school, job, ministry opportunity, etc. Share with the group even if there is uncertainty about it.

Consider today or yesterday. What did your words, actions and behaviors reveal about what is going on inside of you? Take a few minutes to quietly reflect or journal.

Does anyone have some insight that they would like to share as a group?

What is a next step of gratitude God is leading you to take?

Consider this exercise. Put five coins in your left pocket. When you think it and say it, pull a coin out and put in your right pocket as a reminder to be intentional to share gratitude towards God or another.

Current Series: Living Different

This Sunday: The Secret to Happiness

Primary Text: Acts 20:35, I Timothy 6:17-19

Answer one of these questions: What is attractive or admirable about a generous person? Or describe some qualities of a generous person.

Grab a journal, LSCC binder or just a piece of paper. Answer these questions individually by writing down your answers. (Leader, ask these questions separately and allow time for group members to write their answers down.)

Think about the last generous act you did. Who benefitted?

Specifically what were your generous actions?

When did this take place?

Reflect on the sacrifice. What is significant or minimal for you? Explain in a few sentences.

What barriers that tempted you from not being generous?

What impact did it have on you? On the recipient?

How did it reflect Jesus' heart or attitude?

Did anyone discover something about God or themselves through this individual exercise? Take 3-4 minutes to share your learning. Allow all who want to share.

Is generosity a pattern in your life or an exception?

Read I Timothy 6:17-19. Put in your own words how one can “lay up treasures for themselves”?

Who is rich? Discuss as a group.

We are to put our hope in God rather than our money. Then Paul commands us to do good, to be generous, and willing to share. Take time as a group to pray about being generous in the coming days.

After prayer, give 2-3 minutes for group members to write down some specific ways in which they can be generous in the next two days. Not obligations to be generous but possibilities of how God might want to use them.

Current Series: Living Different

This Sunday: Mirror, Mirror

Primary Text: James 1:22-25, Matthew 7:24-27

Read James 1:22-25. How do people deceive themselves? In you speak of others, do it in general terms as not to belittle those you know.

What do you think James is referring to as the mirror?

Consider your strategy to “do” what the perfect law says. What habits or behaviors help you to follow through?

It is easy to deceive ourselves. Share with the group ways that you deceive yourself? Here’s a list if you get stuck…food, exercise, alcohol, shopping, finances, work, parenting.

To go from understanding wisdom to applying wisdom in our lives is a process, and it requires tools. The Bible is an obvious tool. How do you take in the Bible? (paperback, electronically, listening) Is there a place you read where you can “listen” best?